PARX I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



IMPOHTAKOE OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY 



Tha pi'odnction of e*?gs and poultry is one of the 

 most important branches of agriculture. To those who 

 have not given this subject especial attention, the state- 

 ment that the annual poultry products of the United 

 States are equal in value to the wheat crop, may ap- 

 pear something startling. 



According to a recent estimate of the American Agri- 

 culturist, based on the last census and on an extensive 

 inquiry, the nuuiber of fowls in the United States is 

 about 383,000,000; these produce U141,OO0,0O0 dozen 

 eggs each year, and the value of both amounts to $343.- 

 000.000,00. 



Pennsylvania is one of the leading states in the pro- 

 duction of poultry. According to the same authority, 

 there are in this State 15,317,000 fowls of all sorts — 

 rurkeys, geese, ducks and chickens— valued at $8,236, 

 000, and these produce 68,818,000 dozen eggs each year 

 worth, at 20 cents ]>er dozen. |13,763,600. making a 

 total value for ]»oultry and eggs of nbout $22,000. 

 000.00. 



At a very conservative estimate, one-tenth of the 

 poultry, young and old. is carried away by disease each 

 year. Hence the iiii]>oi tanc(> of this subject is mani- 

 fest. 



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